Vending machine



June 9, 1931. E. SCHULTZ VENDING MACHINE- 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed May 31. 1929 June 9, 1931. SCHULTZ 1,808,937

VENDING MACHINE I Filed May 31, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 in ht V "1 4.... a: (.4...

June 9, 1931. L 1,808,937

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STAT EDWARD SCHULTZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLIFIOIS VENDING MACHINE Application filed May 31, 1929. Serial 'No. 367,387.

This invention relates to vending machines, and more particularlyto, vending machines comprising a compartment provided with a window or transparent wall, so

that the contents may be inspected before purchase, which compartment may be opened by a customer with the assistance of a requisite number of coins or tokens.

One of the objects of the invention is to it provide avending machine which is adapted to be readily adjusted so as to require a predetermined number of coins or tokens to effect the opening thereof. A further object of the invention is to provide a vending machine which is provided with a coin freed door on one side, a supply opening on the rear side and signal means on the rear side for indicating when the compartment has been opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vending machine which is adapted to be manually operated from the exterior thereof, such operation requirin the assistance of one or more coins or to em, which series of coins or tokens are released by opening the door. A further object of the invention is to provide a vending machine comprising a plurality of superimposed display compartments which are adapted to be opened by coin freed mechanism. A further object is to provide a vending machine com prising a plurality of superimposed coin freed display compartments and a lower display compartmen Other objects, advantages and capabilities will also more fully appear. My invention further resides in thecombination, construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown herein a. preferred embodiment,

I wish the same to be understood as illustrative only and not limiting the scope of my invention.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the front of a row of vending machines according to my invention; 1

Fig." 2 is a perspective view showing the rear side of such a row ofmachines; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of l abinet comprising a single vending compartment superimposed upon a display compartment;

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the actuating iever and coin insertion slot;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line 55 of Fig. 3 showing the means for closing the door from the rear of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, the innermost partition being substantially completely broken away to'show the coin freed mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an ele *ational detail illustrating the means whereby the coin freed mechanism may be adjusted tob-e actuated by a predetermined number of coils or tokens;

F ig. 8 is a sectional detail, viewed longitudinaily of the coin slide, showing the means for'retaining the coins to assist in unlocking the closure of the compartment;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the coin retaining mechanism in released position;

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail similar to Fig. 6 showing the position of the coin freed mechanism at the moment the closure of the compartment is released; and i V Fig. 11 is a perspective View showing the manner in which cabinets comprising a plurality of vending compartments and lower, display compartments may be assembled in a self-service store. v i

As shown by the drawings, the preferred form of my invention comprises acabinet 2O which is provided with a plurality of coin freed vending compartments 21 in the upper part thereof and a single display compartment 22 in the lower part thereof. 'As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there may be three upper vending compartments, although this number may be varied within wide limits. For example, the form shown in Fig. 6 comprises a single vendingcompartment and a single low or display compartment. 7

It is preferred to form the cabinets in ins tegral units of two cabinets each, although any other'suitable number may be united if desired. Such units may be arranged contiguously, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 1 1, and, as shown in the latter figure, the units may readily b arranged so as to constituteseparate aisles for the customers and the attendants of the machines. Each vending compartment 21 is provided with a hinged door 23 which is provided wi h a window 24, so that the contents of the compartment may. be minutely examined by the intending purchaser during which examination the merchandise is maintained in a sanitary condition. The rear side of the compartment is open, as shown at 25, so that the attendant may place merchandise therein.

The door 23 is provided with a spring 2' which tends to maintain said door open. On its inner side the door 23 is provided with a bracket 27 which is en aged by a rearwardly extending rod 28 which projects behind the cabinet and is provided with the handle portion 29 whereby the attendant may close the door when desired.

Each door 23 is provided with a latch member 30 which is adapted to be automatically engaged by aprojection 31 on a pivoted lever 32 when the door is closed. Adj acent the latched edge of the door and in parallel relation to the adjacent side of the compartment is provided a partition 33 which carries the coin freed mechanism which will now be described.

'A lever 34 is pivotally mounted on the partition 33 and is provided with a handle portion 35 which projects outwardly through the slot 36 on the front face of the compart ment adjacent the latched edge of the door 23. The lever 34 is normally maintained in its uppermost position by a tension spring 37 A downwardly extending portion 38 is provided on the lever 34 at an intermediate portion thereof and pivotally carries the bifurcated lever 32, previously referred to. A tension spring 39 tends to cause said lever to remain in its lowermost position.

The lever 32 is provided with a slot 40 which receives a pin 41 mounted in the member 38 for the purpose of limiting the movement of said lever 32. The upper bifurcated member 42 of the lever 32 carries the-projection 31, previously referred to, which co-operates with the recessed latch member 30. The lower bifurcated member 43 of the lever 32 is adapted to extend through a cutaway portion or slot 44 of a coin guide 45 for a purpose hereinafter described. Said coin guide extends in a downwardly sloping direction from the coin insertion slot 46 suitablyprovided in the front face of the compartment immediately below the handle 35. The lower end of the coin guide 45 is directed into a vertical coin chute 47 which is adapted to receive coins from the superimposed compartments and convey same to a coin box 48.

The coin guide 45 is intended to receive coins or tokens of a particular denomination or size. Where tokens are employed, the slot 46 is preferably adapted to receive only tokens of a certain configuration. For example, one be provided with a projection 49 which is intended to co-operate with grooves 50 in tokens 61, illustrated in Fig. 10.

Associated with the coin guide 45 are means for adjusting or predetermining the number of tokens whichmust be inserted in order to effect the opening of the compartment. Such means may suitably comprise a plate 52 hin ed at its lower edge to the coin guide 45. Said plate 52 carries upwardly extending projections 53 which are perforated, as shown at 54, to receive a removable stud 55 which is provided with a head portion 56.

Also mounted on the plate 52 is a pivoted lever 57, the free end of which is adapted to be engaged by a nut 58 so as to cover the projections 53 and engage the head portion 56, thus retaining the stud 55 in any desired one of the openings 54. Said openings 54 are located along the plate 52, so that they enable a successive number of coins to'be retained between the stud 55- and slot 46. A bracket 59 is adapted to engage a projection on the plate 52 to limit the displacement thereof from the vertical. A spring 60 is provided which tends to displace the plate 52 from its vertical position, as shown in Fig. 9. At its forward end the plate 52 is provided with a curved portion 61 which is adapted to co-operate with a curved projection or cam 62 carried by the door 23, so that when the door is closed the plate 52 is forced into a vertical position and when the door is opened the spring causes deflection of the plate 52, so that the stud 55 is withdrawn from the coin guide-45 allowing the coins to proceed to the coin box 48by means of the chute 47.

The coin freed mechanism so far described is preferably located on the inner or compartment side of the partition 33. On the other side of said partition a lever 63 is pivotally mounted at 64. Said lever 63 normally slopes downwardly towards the rear of the compartment. At is forward end it is provided with a pin 65 which engages through a slot 66 in the partition 33 and engages the upper side of the upper bifurcated member 42. A tension spring 67 causes said pin to remain in contact with said bifurcated member. At its rear end the lever 63 is provided with a pin 68 which engages through a slot 69 in' the partition'33. Said pin 68 is adapted to engage a recess 7 0 in a signal flag 71 which is pivotally mounted at 72,so that it falls outwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, when the door is opened and remains in such outward position until returned by the operator.

The coin freed mechanism. is separated from the compartment and the public view by a partition 73 which is parallel to the partition 33 and spaced apart therefrom. The partition 7 3 is readily removable for the purpost of adjusting the position of the stud 55,

of the sides of the slot 46 may 4 to the position shown in Fig. 9.

or other adjustment sary.

In preparing the machines for operation the coin freed mechanism of eachcompartment is adjusted so as to necessitate the insertion of a predetermined number of coins or tokens to effectuate the opening thereof. For this purpose, the wall 73 is removed, the nut 58 is loosened and the pivoted lever 57 is raised, as shown'in Fig. 7. The stud is then inserted in the appropriate opening 54. For example, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10, the stud 55 is inserted in one of the openings 54 so as to require three'coins or tokens to be inserted in order to open the compartment. The lever 57 is then moved downwardly and engaged by the nut 58 so as to engage the head 56 of the stud 55 and hold the same in said position. The partition 73 is replaced, the door 23 is closed, and merchandise is placed within the compartment and the signal flag 71 is manually placed in vertical position, as shown inFig. 6.

If the lever 35 is depressed, no coins being inserted, the pivoted portion of the lever moves downwardly and the lower arm 43 thereof extends through the cutaway portion or slot 44 of the coin guide 45. The latch projection 31 remains engaged in the recess in the latch member 30 carried by the door, so that the same cannot be opened. When a number of coins less than the requisite numher is inserted in the guide 45, the same result is obtained when the lever is depressed, since such coins move down said guide into the position occupied by the two lower coins shown in Fig. 10.

When the requisite number of coins is inserted, the last coin is maintained by the previous coins in a position opposite the slot 44. l Vhen the mechanism is inthis condition and the lever 35 is depresse'ch'the lower arm 43 of the bifurcated lever 32 engages the last inserted coin, so that the downward move ment of the pivot of the lever 32 causes the elevation of the latch projection 31 out of the recess in the latch member 30. The door now opens under the influence of the spring 26.

WVhen the door opens the curved projection or cam 62 carried thereby is withdrawn from contact with the plate 52, so that said plate is free to move under the action of the spring from the position shown in Fig. 8

Consequently, the coins are no longer held by the stud'55, so that they are released and fall down the guide 45 into the coin chute 47, through which they fall downwardly into the coin box 48. The elevation of the upper arm 42 of the bifurcated lever 32 causes the upper movement of the pin'65 and a corresponding movement of the lever 63., which results in the downward m'ovem'entof the pin 7 O and the release of'the signal flag 7-1, so that the latter or repairs, when necesfalls outwardly under the influence of grav ity. The merchandise contained in the compartment is now available to the customer, and the attendant on the rear side of the machine is provided witha'visual signal which leads him to restock the compartment with further merchandise.

In restocking the compartment, the attenda-nt pulls the handle '29 of the rod 28 which results in the closing of the door and the em gagement of the latch projection 31 in the recess of thelatch 30 carried by the door 23. The return of the cam member 62 carried by the door causes the plate '52 and the mechanism carried thereby to move from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 8. Merchandise is placed in the compartment and the flag 71 elevated to its vertical position.

I claim a 1. A vending machine comprising a compartment, a closure therefor and coin freed mechanism controlling the locking of said closure comprising means adapted to retain an inserted coin in predetermined position, resilient. means normally tending to move the retaining means out of coin engaging position, means operable from'the exterior of the compartment and adapted to be engaged by said coin to effect the release of said closure, and means controlled by the withdrawal of said closurefor releasing the retaining means.

2. A vending machine comprisinga compartment, a closure therefor and coin freed mechanism controlling the locking of said closure comprising means adapted to retain an inserted coin in predetermined position, means o-perable'from the exterior of the compartment, a pivoted lever adapted to be moved thereby, a projection on said lever adapted to engage a recessed member on said closure, said pivoted lever being adapted, when moved,-to engage said coin and efiect the withdrawal of said'project-ion from said recessed member and the release of said closure.

3. A vending machine comprising a compartment,a closure therefor and coin freed mechanism controlling the locking'oi' said closure comprising guide means adapted to guide an inserted coin, laterally movable means adapted to hold said coin in pre deter-- mined position, means operable from the exterior of said compartment, a pivoted lever adapted to be moved thereby, a projection on said lever adapted to engage a recessed member on said closure, said lever being adapted, when moved, to be engaged by said-coin to cause same to be rotated so, as to withdraw said projection from said recessed member and release the closure, and means on said 010- sure which causes the coin holding means to move'laterally and release said coin when the closure iswithdrawn. i v

-4. Coin freed mechanism comprising a locked member, a guide for coins, a hinged member adjacent said guide, a coin retaining member carried by said hinged member and means on said locked member co-operating with said hinged member so that the coin-retaining member is in operative position when the locked member is locked and in inoperative position when said member is unlocked.

5. Coin freed mechanism comprising a movable member adapted to be locked, a guide for coins, a hinged member adjacent said guide, a coin retaining member adapted to be mounted at any of a plurality of positions on said hinged member to adapt the mechanism to be freed by a predetermined number of coins and a cam member on said movable member adapted to co-operate with said hinged member so that the coins are retained when the movable member is locked and released when the movable member is unlocked.

6. A vending machine comprising a compartment, a door therefor and coin freed mechanism controlling the locking of said door comprising a coin guide, a member hinged adjacent thereto, a coin retaining member adapted to be mounted at any of a plurality of positions on said hinged member to adapt the machine to be released by a predetermined number of coins, a cam member carried by said door and adapted to engage said hinged member so that the coins are retained when the door is closed and released when the door is open, a latch member movable from theexterior of the compartment and adapted when thus moved to be engaged by the last inserted coin to effect the release of the door.

7. A vending machine comprising a compartment, a hinged door therefor and coin freed mechanism controlling the locking of said door comprising a guide adapted to retain a predetermined and variable number of coins in a row, means operable from the exterior of the compartment, a pivoted lever adapted to be moved thereby, a projection on said lever adapted to engage a recessed member on said door, said lever being adapted, when moved, to engage the last coin of the row and effect the withdrawal of said projection from said recessed member and release said doors I 8. A vending machine comprising a compartment, a, closure therefor, coin freed means controlling the locking of said closure comprising means adapted to retain an inserted coin in predetermined position, latch meansoperable from the exterior of the container and adapted tobe engaged by said coin to effect the release of said closure, signal means at the rear of said compartment, and means adapted to be moved by the releasing movement of said latch means to release said signal means.

9. A vending machine comprising a compartment, a closure therefor, coin freed means controlling the locking of said closure comprising means adapted to retain an inserted coin in predetermined position, latch means operable from the exterior of the conta-iner and adapted to be engaged by said coin to effect the release of said closure, signal means at the rear of said compartment,

and a spring heldpivoted lever adapted to be actuated by the releasing movement of said latch means to release said signal means.

10. A vending machine comprising a compartment, a closure therefor, coin freed mechanism controlling the lockingof said closure comprising means adapted to retain an inserted coin in predetermined position, means operable from the exterior of the compartment, a pivoted lever adapted to be moved thereby, a projection on said lever adapted to engage a recessed member on said closure, said pivoted lever being adapted, when moved, to engage vsaid coin and effect the withdrawal of said projection from said recessed member and the release of said closure, a pivoted signal flag at the rear of the compartment, a spring held pivoted lever adapted to maintain said flag in vertical position and adapted to be moved by the releasing movement'of the first said pivoted lever to release said flag. a

11. A vending machine comprising a compartment, a hinged door therefor, coin freed mechanism controlling the locking of said door comprising a guide for coins, a member hinged longitudinally thereof and provided with a series of openings, a stud adapted to be located in any one of said openings, a movable pivoted lever adapted to maintain said stud in such position, means normally tending to move said stud out of the coin guide, a recessed latch member mounted on said door, a pivoted lever, a latch projection carried thereby, a member movable from the exterior of the compartment carrying said pivot, said pivoted lever having a portion adapted to pass through a slot in said coin guide so as to contact'with the last of the coins necessary to effect opening of the door, so that when the pivot is moved the engagement of said pivoted lever with the coin causes the withdrawal of the latch projection from the recessed latch member, a curved cam projection carried by said door and adapted to maintain said stud in coin retaining position when the door is closed, a pivoted signalflag at the rear side of said compartment adapted to be held out of warning position by a pivoted lever and means on said lever adapted to be operated by the releasing movement of said latch projection to release said signal.

12. A vending machine comprising a compartment, a closure therefor, coin freed means controlling the locking of said closure comprising means adapted to retain an inserted coin stationary in predetermined position, latch means operable from the exterior of the container and adapted to be engaged by said coin to effect the release of said closure, signal means at the rear of said com- 5 partment, and means adapted to be moved by the releasing movement of said latch means to release said signal means.

13. A vending machine comprising a compartment, a closure therefor, coin freed 0 means controlling the locking of said closure comprising means adapted to retain an inserted coin in predetermined position, latch means operable from the exterior of the container and adapted to be engaged by said coin so that its movement is modified to effect the release of said closure, signal means at the rear of said compartment, and means adapted to be moved by the releasing movement of said latch means to release said signal 2 means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of May, 1929.

EDWARD SCHULTZ. 

